Valve lock



Dec. 1,2, 1944. R MURPHY' 2,364,909

VALVE LOCK 'E 15 Mur' F11-nj ATTORN EYS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE LOCK RayMurphy, Wetumka, Okla.

Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,841

1 claim. f

This inventionrelates to improvements in valve mechanisms.

The primary Aobject of the invention is the provision of an improvedvalve mechanism, embodying a lock, by means oi which the degree ofopening of the valve can be regulated.

Further object of this invention is the provision of an improved lockmechanism which is adapted for co-operative application uponconventional gate or globevalves, and by means of which the flow of themedium which the valve controls may be accurately regulatedandmaintained. Y

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, 1

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved valve mechanism looking inthe direction of the flow line in which the valve is positioned.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken through the improved valvemechanism.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the lock bolt and valvestem portion of the invention, substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the lock cover removed from the valve hoodand with the lock bolt partially withdrawn.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the valve cover and tumblertype of lock mechanism associated with the valve.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the, lock bolt.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bolt cam piece.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 ofFigure 5.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of i1- lustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate a valve having any approved characteristics. It may be of thegate or globe type. Upon it aspecial hood B is adapted to be mounted;the latter embodying the improved lock mechanism C.

The valve mechanism A may be of any conventional type. That `shown inthe drawing is of a gate valve, including a casing I0 provided with avalve gate II therein. The casing I0 has a bonnet I2 attached thereto,and a detachable stuffing box assemblage I3 embodying any approvedcharacteristics; the bonnet and stuiingy box rotatably receiving thevalve stem I4 thereupon. This Jvalve stem has a screw threaded portionI5 which engages a screw threaded socket in the gate II for lifting andlowering the latter, in accordance with well-known construction.

The valve stern I4 is conventional except that it is longer than theusual valve stem and its outer end is provided with a squared portion I6(preferably reducedl) and presenting four at sides, the opposite sidesof which are parallel to each other, and adjacent sides of whichare atangles of degrees. The bolt of the improved lock is adapted to cooperatewith these sides in locking the stem in a desired position. The valvestern is provided with a handle or knob 20 of any approved type.

The Vhood B may appropriately be termed an auxiliary bonnet, since it;is recessed inwardly from its lower end at 25, to receive the upperportion of the stuing box and the exposed portion of the conventionalbonnet I2 therein. In .this

recess it is provided with screw threads 2l adapted to screw thread uponan external screw threaded portion at the top of the conventional bonnetI2, as shown in Figure 2. This screw threaded portion 2l is in the lowerportion of the recess 25, but the hood extends downwardly over theentire bonnet I 2 of the valve when the hood B is in place to entirelyenclose the same. Of course, the recess 25 extends upwardly into thehood B sufciently to entirely enclose the stuffing box I3, as shown inFigure 2.

Referring to features of the lock mechanism C, the same includes asupporting portion 30, which may be referred to as a cover. Inhorizontal cross-section it is L-shaped and adapted to t around slightlyless than degrees of the circumference of the upper part of the hood B,as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. It is adapted to be Welded, asshown at 3| in Figure 3 of the drawing, to secure it in place upon theupper part of the hood. This supporting cover 30 receives therein a pintumbler cylinder lock 40. The plug 4I of this lock, shown projecting inFigure 5 of the drawing, is provided with an axially extending bit 42which is adapted to extend into the slot 43 of a cam cylinder 45. Ofcourse, the hood B is tangentially providedv with a recess to receivethe casing of the pin tumbler lock and also to rotatably receive the cambarrel or cylinder 45, as shown in Figure 2. iAlso, the hood B isprovided with a radial slot or recess 50 in which the bolt 5l slides.

The bolt 5I, as shown in Figure 2, is bifurcated at one end; the spacebetween the fingers 52 forming the bifurcation being slightly wider thanthe valve stem I4, at the square portion I6, so as to receive the lattertherein in order to lock the stem I4 against turning movement. The bolt5l is rectangular and slides radially in the recess 50, and can bewithdrawn' therefrom.

when the lock cover 30 is removed. The recess 50 is sufficiently long topermit the fingers 52 to be moved away from the sides of the squareportion I6, and to permit turning of the valve stem.

The bolt 5l is provided with a notch 60 in its lower side adapted toreceive the radial cam extension El upon the cam cylinder 45.

Operation of the lock, in order to permit turning movement of the valvestem, will be apparent from the foregoing. In its locked position, shownin Figure 2, the cam controlled by the pin tumbler cylinder lock willhold the Abolt 5I' in position across the square portion I6 of thev stemand prevent any turning movement of the latter. Insertion of the properkey in the pin tumbler cylinder will permit the plug 4i to be turned,and due to the fitting of the bit 42 in the slotted endofthe camcylinder 45 the latter may be turned to move the bolt 5l away from thevalve stem, and .permit one to turn the latter.

Due to the fact that the stem portion I6 is squared the lock may holdthe valve stem at each quarter degree vof turning movement, so as toaccurately adjust the open position of the gate. In order to determinethe proper position the handle 20 is provided with an arrow l0 andsimilarly the valve hood B may be provided with arrows H at 90 degreesaround the hood.

The improved valve may be used for regulating any fluent materials, suchas gas, liquids, vapors, steam, etc.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of the invention herein shownand described without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the following claim.

I claim:

As an article of manufacture; a locking hood structure for receiving thevalve stems and bonnet vstructures of valve mechanism comprising anelongated substantially cylindrical-shaped casing structure having anupper portion provided with a small diametered valve stem passagewaytherethru, lock mechanism carried by said upper portion of the casingincluding a bolt slidable into valve stem locking relation in the valvestem passageway, said casing below the upper portion thereof wherein thevalve stem passageway is provided having an enlarged chamber forreceiving the bonnet of a valve mechanism, said chamber at the lower endthereof being provided with an annular flange projecting into thechamber having internal screw threads .for attachment to a bonnetstructure, said casing below said screw threaded flange providing a thinwalled depending skirt defining la chamber which is rWider than theaforementioned chamber.

RAY MURPHY.

